Posts Tagged ‘MMA’

Alfred Kashakyan Returns to Form at CXF ‘Gold Rush’ and Earns His First Title

Posted: April 24, 2016 in Combat Sports, UFC
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The Beginning of the End

The Beginning of the End

By: Jonathan M. King The Clinch Report

Photos By: John Walsh The Clinch Report

According to Hemingway people with ‘guts’ always show “grace under pressure.” Coming in to his fight against Andrew Natividad, Alfred Kashakyan personified that saying. Returning off of a loss in his last fight and fighting with the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide as the back drop, Kashakyan was shouldering a ton of weight. He was not only fighting for the CXF Bantamweight title, but he was also fighting for a nation people who still to this day, continue to fight for themselves. Despite the pressure Kashakyan performed with grace, and showcased his power along the way.

Once Kashakyan made his way into the ball room it became clear who the crowd was there to see. Once he made his way into the cage it became clear who he was see! Charging to a halt an inch from his opponent Kashakyan stomped defiantly in front of him before circling away to take his corner. The aggressive display was not a taunt as much as it was a precursor for the chaotic storm on the horizon.

As the fight began Natividad looked to stay low, and after a few strikes from Kashakyan he shot in an attempt to take the fight to the mat. However Kashakyan was able to fend off the takedown, and once out of danger, he separated and looked to get busy with his hands. Each punch he threw was meant to end the fight. Although Natividad was able to block a few, in retreat a head kick backed him up against the cage and once there Kashakyan unleashed a flurry of strikes that dropped him a couple of times. The stoppage came moments later as grounded strikes went unanswered forcing the referee to stop the bout.

After the win an emotional Alfred Kashakyan spoke to the crowd about how personal the fight was for him. He spoke of his struggle, and of the Armenian struggle and vowed to continue his reign as CXF Champion declaring “This belt is mine, and its not going anywhere”.

The win moves Kashakyan to 6-2 as a pro and also earns him his first mixed martial arts title. As with most of the CXF fighters, Alfred is on a short list of UFC hopefuls in the bantamweight division. It would not be a surprise to see both Kashakyan and fellow 135 lbs prospect Terrion Ware in the UFC in the near future, if not perhaps we will see them square off in the CXF cage. Only time will tell!

Wherever Kashakyan fights next is only a guess, however as he starts to get bigger and bigger fights you can expect a seasoned fighter, one used to the pressure. A fighter who Hemingway himself would say has ‘guts’ in spades, a fighter with ‘Grace’!

The next CXF show is scheduled for June make sure you follow Lights Out Promotions and Bash Boxing for more information.

All photos are the property of The Clinch Report, LLC. Any unauthorized use is prohibited. Please email news@theclinchreport.com for licensing information.

Ware vs Gooch: A Fight A Year in The Making Delivers Big!

Posted: April 23, 2016 in Combat Sports, UFC
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By: Jonathan King The Clinch Report

Photos By: John Walsh The Clinch Report

Hype can be a fickle word in the fight business. Often it ends up being hyperbole, rarely delivering on a quarter of the expectation. Going into last nights event California Xtreme Fighting’s ‘Gold Rush’ event the hype behind the Terrion Ware vs Rob Gooch fight had built for so long, it was literally overflowing. Rarely do these bouts every live up to expectations. In this case, the fight exceeded the lofty expectations and ended up being one of the most entertaining bouts of the year.

To understand the genesis of this fight, you have to cast back to almost a year ago. Under another promotion this fight was booked as a main event. All of the media jumped on the bandwagon of a fight that could produce a future UFC star. However a staph infection hospitalized Gooch leaving the fight in limbo. Months went by Gooch healed; Ware kept training and again the fight was booked. Cursed, once again the fight ended up on the scrap heap. The promotion was forced to cancel the event due to injuries, and again both fighters were left all dressed up with no place to go. However this time the cancellation coincided with the ‘Gold Rush’ event, and after reaching an agreement the bout was again signed. The featured scrap would also produce the number one contender for the CXF Bantamweight Title.

So finally after a year of waiting, both fighters were healthy on weight, and the bout was set. Once the cage door closed the the excuses and the hype quickly faded. The anticipation became a violent reality that lived up to the billing. For three rounds Rob Gooch and Terrion Ware danced. For 15 minutes they engaged in a bloody tango that had the crowd on their feet the entire time.

The back and forth first round was closely contested, with Ware scoring more effectively in the stand up department, however a takedown from Gooch was able to give him dominate position for a good chunk of time. Once back up, Ware began landing with counter right hands, that inspired a mouse under the eye of his surging opponent.

In the second round, Ware continued to loosen up with his hands catching Gooch several times that buckled his knees. However Gooch refused to break, instead he coiled like a rattlesnake before springing back to life with punches that testified to his resolve. The first of these surges, rocked Ware with an uppercut. However the offensive production just wasn’t on a par for Gooch. As the fight progressed, Ware continued to pile up points, landing two or three times at a time with combinations that were answered back with singular shots. Towards the middle of the final round, Gooch’s eye began to swell shut as Ware tactfully pieced him apart with counter right hands. Ware hit him with everything but the kitchen sink, yet Gooch remained standing.

Ware cruised to a one sided decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26) however the score does not exact the contest any justice. The fight itself was one of the most entertaining bouts of the year. In victory the Terrion Ware remains on the cusp of the big show. He continues to evolve as a fighter and this win certainly puts him on a short list of UFC hopefuls in the 135 lbs division. Rob Gooch ends up with a loss on the score sheets, but his stock continues to rise. The heart, fire and desire this guy displayed is certain to carry him past the loss. Simply put people with that kind of fortitude never stay down long.

All photos are the property of The Clinch Report, LLC. Any unauthorized use is prohibited. Please email news@theclinchreport.com for licensing information.

California Xtreme Fighting: Gold Rush Set To Crown Inaugural Champions

Posted: April 13, 2016 in Combat Sports, UFC
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By: Jonathan M. King The Clinch Report

In 1848 after gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill; California became the place for the bold to stake their claim to a bright future. Now nearly 170 years later, California Xtreme Fighting is the new Sutter’s Mill, and our young mixed martial artists are the miners seeking their fortune. The times may have changed, but the bounty is still the same. Everyone wants some of that sweet sweet gold, and on April 22nd, plenty will be on the line.

Lights Out Promotions in association with Bash Boxing are proud to be presenting ‘CXF: Gold Rush’ on April 22, 2016 at The Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City. The talent laden card features some of the top young mixed martial artists in the world. Each one of them looking to strike gold.

Preliminary Card:

Georgie Garcia (2-2 MMA) vs Angel Oliveras (Pro Debut)

Georgie Garcia has fought under the Lights Out/Bash umbrella before, and those who have seen him fight are always entertained. His muay thai pedigree and strong athleticism make him a nightmare inside a large cage. His opponent Angel Oliveras is making his pro debut after an amateur pedigree that saw him even with a 1-1 record. Oliveras is a well rounded fighter with some slick submission skills. Both young men are hungry so sit back and watch them eat.

Marlen MaGee (2-4 MMA) vs Craig Plaskett (Pro Debut)

Marlen MaGee returns to action under the Lights Out/Bash umbrella for the fourth time. The heavy handed MaGee is looking for his first win after coming short in his previous engagements. His opponent Craig Plaskett is making his pro debut after a rather extensive amateur career that saw him even with 4 wins against 4 losses. Plaskett also possesses power in both hands, so this could up being a ‘rock em sock em robots’ type of fight. Don’t blink.

Joshua Jones (1-0 MMA) vs Akkim Lee (Pro Debut)

Joshua Jones came into his last bout the underdog, and left after silencing the crowd with a huge win in his pocket. Jones displayed a wide array of striking and dominated with a versatile attack that wore down his opponent before choking the will to compete from him. His opponent Akkim Lee has been around for a long time. Lee has an extensive amateur background and has a ton of fight left. Expect an educated slug fest!

Jordan Isordia (2-3 MMA) vs Derion Chapman (2-4-1)

Both of these young scrappers bring a ton of talent and energy to the cage. Isordia is the type of striker that likes to stay in the pocket, he certainly is not afraid to take a punch in order to land one. Chapman is more of a floater, who likes to inflict damage quickly before exiting his opponents range. On their feet, the fight could go either way. However should the fight hit the mat, Chapman is very dangerous off his back. This bout could be a back and forth war that produces a magical finish.

Armen Bakanyan (1-3-1 MMA) vs Dmitry Gerasimov (4-4MMA)

This is an easy candidate for Fight of the Night, simply because it already has been! If this rematch is any where close to as good as the first fight, everyone is in for an action-packed treat. The first fight ended in a close split decision that favored Gerasimov. Now 3 years later, these two are set to square off again. This time Bakanyan wants revenge, and his opponent Gerasimov wants to remove all doubt. Get ready for a nasty grudge match with all the violent trimmings. A last minute replacement on the card, may end up being the best fight of the night!

Main Card:

Moses Murrietta (2-0 MMA) vs Matthew Spencer (4-1 MMA) For the CXF Middleweight Championship

In his last bout Moses Murrietta was two parts lightning and one part thunder. Showcasing his superior boxing skills, he systematically picked apart a very tough John Gendron cruising to an rather oddly scored split decision victory. Murrietta sets up his power well with ranging strikes. He will need to use that range to contain his opponent who is somewhat of a bulldog. Matthew Spencer is built like an NFL fullback, and is just as athletic. In the clinch his power transforms opponents into victims quickly and on the mat things only get worse. A brown belt under Eddie Bravo, Spencer can quickly make the fight a foggy memory if your not careful. With a belt on the line, you can expect one hell of a high octane battle.

Jay Bogan (5-5 MMA) vs Cody Bollinger (16-5 MMA) For the CXF Featherweight Championship

Cody Bollinger is a veteran who has fought in pretty much every organization from the UFC on down. His stifling wrestling pedigree has picked up some pretty nasty striking along the way. Currently mired in a 3 fight losing streak Bollinger is looking to rebound with a win that would put him right back in the mix in the featherweight landscape. What his opponent Jay Bogan may lack in experience he certainly makes up for with ridiculous submission skills. With four of his five wins coming via submission Bogan is quick to attack in the transition. Equally dangerous on top position or on his back, Bogan can end the fight in an instant. This fight could end up being a battle of transitions, with the winner being crowned the CXF Featherweight Champion.

Alfred Kashakyan (5-2 MMA) vs Andrew Natividad (3-4 MMA) For the CXF Bantamweight Championship

Andrew Natividad is a very experienced and well rounded fighter. He possesses the one quality you cannot teach a fighter. He is a grinder. However in his last 2 fights, he came up on the wrong end of a decision to Ruben Duran and Juan Archuletta. His opponent Alfred Kashakyan has devastating knockout power in both hands, and brings a huge arsenal of weapons to the cage. Kashakyan is also coming off a disappointing loss, so his appetite is larger than ever. With the winner being crowned the CXF Bantamweight Champion you can bet this is going to be a great fight. Early candidate for Fight of the Night.

Terrion Ware (11-5 MMA) vs Rob Gooch (4-2 MMA)

Once the combat gods get there eyes on a matchup, they must be satisfied. This fight has been a long time coming. Finally after clearing up some red tape, and after all the injuries are healed, these two are going to throw down. Rob Gooch may be at a experience disadvantage record wise, but his skill is unquestionable. Equally dangerous on the mat or standing, Gooch is an extremely efficient fighter, a tactician with a keen mind. If your not on the ball at all times, Gooch can grab an arm or a leg, and end the fight in an instant. His opponent Terrion Ware has seemingly been one fight away from the UFC for a while now. Possibly one of the best bantamweights outside of the UFC, Ware is looking to make a statement, one signed with leather. A highlight reel win over a fighter like Rob Gooch may be the final piece in the puzzle. This fight could easily end up being the Fight of The Night.

Karen Darabedyan (11-5 MMA) vs Joe Condon (11-9 MMA) For The CXF 160lbs Championship 

This fight could easily be a money fight on a televised card. Both of these fighters have competed at the top level in mixed martial arts, both are still in their prime and both share a ridiculous grappling pedigree. Joe Condon has fought for titles in King of the Cage (twice), and competed in the 155 lbs tournament for World Series of Fighting. His experience speaks for itself. On his feet Condon has decent hands, but his defensive skills are amazing which often leads to openings for take downs. On the mat his finishing instincts shine. His methodical transitions to the back are relentless, and singular in purpose. Simply put if you give up your back, its pretty much over. His opponent Karen Darabedyan, like Condon is talented beyond words. Darabedyan a student of Gokor Chivichyan and Gene Lebell has some of the best leg locks in the game. If he grabs a leg, your going to be limping for along time. On his feet Darabedyan utilizes his compact frame to explode into his punches like a coiled snake. If he turns your chin, the room will get dim real quick. Once he has his opponents wounded, Darabedyan does not show mercy, well he sort of does, he doesn’t waste any time, and usually the finish comes quickly! Both of these fighters are climbing their way back to the top of the pecking order, so you can expect a war! This fight will not only product the CXF champion, the winner will also be arguably the best lightweight fighter in the state!

This event is in memory of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 and a portion of the proceeds will donated to charity. Never Forget!

 

The Return of The King: The Resurrection of California Xtreme Fighting Preview

Posted: March 3, 2016 in Combat Sports, UFC
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By Jonathan M. King The Clinch Report

Photos By: John Walsh The Clinch Report

Photos By: Bob Fisher Pugilpix.com

On March 4th, Lights Out Promotions, in association with Bash Boxing, will present a reincarnation of sorts. California Xtreme Fighting has dusted off their banner of war, and once again it will be flying over the warriors inside of a cage. We are proud to present CXF: The Return, which will be held March 4th at The Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City.

Many of Southern California’s top fighters have cut their teeth under the CXF Banner including: Joe Schilling, Jared Hamman, Tony Ferguson, Joe Condon, Jared Papazian, Francisco Rivera, Aaron Miller and many others. Since CXF’s last event many have tried to fill the void, but none have been able.

“The Return” of CXF has one purpose. The combat gods have short memories, so we will jog their recollection by putting together one of the best fight cards of the year. CXF:”The Return” will feature some of southern California’s top mixed martial arts talent, all of them looking to move one step closer to the promise land. The main card will feature a mix of seasoned professionals, and talented young ‘up and comers’ that will end up being future champions in this sport. This is an event that cannot be missed, so get your tickets early. This event is certain to sell out.
Go To: www.valleyfightnight.com  to purchase tickets.

The Main Event:
Pablo Sabori (6-2 MMA) vs Karen Darabedyan: (10-5 MMA) 155 lbs
Both fighters have well decorated pedigrees, and they both come from outstanding teams. Sabori a native Brazilian will be bringing his well rounded striking game into the cage, looking to turn lights out early. Darabedyan a grappler by trade, is also not one to shy away from a fire fight. He too has explosive hands with excellent footwork, so a toe-to-toe war is a possibility. However, he has been inactive in MMA for a little over a year. Will the ring rust be an issue? Sabori is currently riding a 4 fight win streak, and a hot horse is always tough to bet against. This fight could go either way, making all who witness the only sure fire guaranteed winners! Both of these guys are highly skilled, so this fight may produce any one, or maybe all of the performance bonuses! Buckle your seat belt and enjoy the ride.

The Main Card:
Shohei Yamamoto (2-0 MMA) vs Erick Gonzalez (4-1 MMA) 155 lbs
This is a very intriguing fight. Both of these fighters had absolutely stellar amateur careers, which resulted in success early on as professionals. Erick ‘The Ghost Pepper’ Gonzalez a spicy striker with power in both hands, has deadly Muay Thai strikes. He is extremely precise with his striking, and on the mat he has some explosive jiujitsu. Shohei Yamamoto is a well rounded fighter with knockout power in both hands. He also maintains a CSW pedigree which could make him a nightmare if he secures top position. Both of these guys are on the rise, what a treat to see them compete this early in there careers. Experts always claim styles make fights, and this one is not different. This fight may end up being the Fight of The Night.

Mosses Murrieta (1-0 MMA) vs John Gendron (1-0 MMA) 185 lbs
What a matchup! Both of these guys seem to enjoy throwing their hands, and when they do, they tend to make a mess. Murrieta destroyed his last opponent via KO early in the first round, while Gendron recently slugged out a decision in his pro debut. Both of these guys can end the fight with one punch. Very often when you have that kind of power facing off, you end up getting a back and forth war. This fight could produce either Knockout of The Night, or Fight of The Night, or dare we dream both?

Matthew Spencer (3-1 MMA) vs Idris Wasi (1-3 MMA) 185 lbs
Both of these fighters are hungry. Losses can be motivating that way, they are tough to stomach. Idris Wasi is cardio machine, who went the distance in his last fight, his debut under the Bellator banner. However he ended up on the wrong side of a judges decision. Now looking to punch his ticket back to the big leagues, Wasi must first ply his craft at CXF: The Return. His opponent Matthew Spencer is also coming off a disappointing loss, and is flat out chomping at the bit to get back in the cage. In Wasi, Spencer sees dinner, one he must first hunt himself. Spencer a jiujitsu purple belt with heavy hands has fought here before, and is banking on the hometown support. Both fighters are excellent athletes so this one might end up a going the distance in a back and forth war.

Bobby Sanchez (8-27 MMA) vs Derrion ‘DC’ Chapman (1-4-1 MMA) 145 lbs
Sanchez comes in off a win, and brings over 10 years experience as a professional fighter. In his career he has fought UFC veteran Cody McKenzie, Bellator MMA and WEC vet Chad George, Bellator MMA veteran Mark Vorgeas, and WEC legend Manny Tapia. He will need to rely on that experience as he is set to take on the always entertaining Derrion Chapman. Chapman returns to our cage for the 4th time and is looking to put an end to a 2 fight skid. Both of these guys are pretty quick, so don’t blink.

Taylor Alfaro (0-0 MMA) vs Kyler Phillips (0-0 MMA) 145 lbs
Both of these fellas are making their professional debuts after stellar records as amateurs. Neither has tasted defeat before, going a combined 10-0 as amateurs. With 8 of those fights ending decisively, by either submission or knockout this is a fight you will not want to miss. Two young guns looking to make a name at the others expense. This fight could go either way, and may end up producing a future champion.

Chase Gibson (MMA) vs A.J. Bryant (MMA) 145 lbs
Chase Gibson burst on to the professional scene as an undefeated amateur with a whole bunch of eyes on him. Three fights into his career he finds himself in the midst of his first losing streak. Losing 2 of his first 3 bouts via decision, Gibson is certainly looking to getting back to his forte, which is knocking people out. In his way talented youngster A.J. Bryant who is making his professional debut. Bryant, a heavy handed scrapper, is eager to start his pro career the way his amateur one ended with a victory.

Brad Robinson (1-1 MMA) vs Andryii Vasylenko (3-0 MMA) 220lbs
Training out of Hayastan MMA, Andryii Vasylenko enters the professional ranks with one hell of a pedigree behind him. The concrete fisted grappler can end any fight in an instant, either with his vicious hands, or on the mat with his stifling grappling. At 6’5 Bradley Robinson will be the first opponent Vasylenko won’t be able to dominant with sheer size. If Robinson can utilize his reach he should be able to keep the fight at a range where only he can score. This fight is going to end being a battle of will, look for both fighters to assert themselves early in this battle.

Keith Cutrone (0-0 MMA) vs Edgar Khachatryan (0-0 MMA) 170 lbs
Both of these fighters are making their professional debuts. Cutrone, a submission expert has won all three of his amateur bouts via the tap, is looking to parlay that success into a debut win as a professional. His opponent Edgar Khachatryan also making his debut fights out of the famed Hayastan Academy, where he trains under grappling gods Gokor Chivichyan and Gene Lebell. With those guys leading your camp, you can expect a well prepared fighter ready to go to war. Keep in mind these guys are middleweights, so pay attention. Both of these guys throw bricks!

Tigran Grigoryan (0-0 MMA) vs Joshua Jones (0-1 MMA) 170 lbs
Both Grigoryan and Jones had extensive amateur careers. Jones is getting back into the cage for the first time since 2014 and is looking to bounce back from a loss in his pro debut. Grigoryan 4-1 as an amateur, is entering the pro ranks riding a 4 fight win streak, with 2 of those wins coming via submission. Grigoryan may maintain a slight edge on the mat, however Jones has much more time in the cage, and that experience could prove to be the difference maker. Also, both of these guys have the gas to go the distance, so keep a score card on this one, it could end up being that close.

In an Amateur Showcase, Jonathan Quiroz from CMMA will be taking on Leon Shahbazian from Glendale Fighting Club at 170 lbs. In case you missed any of our events check out the image gallery below.

 

The Warrior Returns: Albert Morales Picks Up Another Big Win

Posted: February 22, 2016 in Combat Sports, UFC
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By: Jonathan M. King The Clinch Report

Photos By: John Walsh The Clinch Report

Photos By: Bob Fisher Pugilpix.com

“What though strength fails? Boldness is certain to win praise. In mighty enterprises, it is enough to have had the determination” -Sextus Aurelius Propertius

Leading up to BAMMA USA event last week, 135 lbs prospect Albert Morales boldly took to social media and called out the champion when his opponent Rob Gooch fell off the card with an injury. Despite already having a fight himself, Morales saw opportunity. Although that matchup never happened the seeds had been sewn. Instead of talking his way into a title fight, Morales was going to have to earn that shot.

In his way a very tough Anthony Paredes, who trains out of  Team Quest and possesses some of the best wrestling in the division. His smothering attack can be a nightmare for a striker. Just watch his fight with Alfred Kashakian to see why. Although the fight may not have been a ‘mighty enterprise’, it would however be the ‘determination’ that crowned the victor.

Once the fight started it appeared clear that Morales was the more aggressive fighter. Moving well, and working behind his jab, Morales kept Paredes on his bicycle for most of the fight. Each time Morales would engage, Paredes would retreat. Outside of one take down, which Morales quickly transitioned into a potential armbar; the fight remained standing for 3 rounds.

Consistently moving forward, Morales found a home for his straight punches and wobbled Paredes several times with sharp two and three punch combinations, however he showed excellent maturity by remaining cautious. By doing so he never exposed his legs by getting over aggressive. Instead he maintained distance, reset, and looked to land again. Paredes did his best to fire back, but he just couldn’t keep up with Morales’s athleticism. Although the finish eluded him, Morales cruised to a unanimous decision win.

With the victory the bold 135 lb fighter moves his undefeated record to 5-0, where he finds himself in a prime position. As a top prospect he may soon get swallowed up by a larger promotion (World Series of Fighting was certainly impressed!), and if he doesn’t, at least he can now lay claim to a title shot. Before his words were just bravado, but after his last fight, can you really deny him the opportunity? His mouth may have booked the reservation, but his actions have at least earned him a seat at the table.

 

 

 

 

‘The American Gangster’ Chael Sonnen Has Some Simple Advice for Jon Jones! “Don’t Drive!”

Posted: February 8, 2016 in Combat Sports, UFC
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By Staff:

Frequent guest on The Brutally Honest show, Chael Sonnen recently stopped by again to talk MMA with the boys, and when the topic of his former adversary Jon Jones came up, Sonnen offered some very simple advice, “Don’t Drive!” Check out the rest of the interview to hear some other words of wisdom ‘The American Gangster’ had for the former light heavyweight champion

Apparently that advice has fallen on deaf ears. It appears Jones has yet again been caught up in a traffic violation that may or may not have seen him driving without a license (according to several sources). His management team has countered that saying Jones was simply cited for speeding, and that he was fully licensed and insured. A Wednesday court date will clear up any ambiguities in the story.

Hopefully for Jones, this is just a speed bump as his rematch with Cormier having just been announced. Jon Jones is undoubtedly one of the most talented fighters on the planet, hopefully he can continue to keep his life on track!

The Brutally Honest Show is live every Wednesday 8pm pst . You can download episodes from iTunes or subscribe on Soundcloud. The show is also featured each week on .

 

 

The future for Chris ‘The Cutt’ Honeycutt seems bright, Relive his MMA Debut!

Posted: January 28, 2016 in Combat Sports, UFC
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By: Jonathan King

Photos By: John Walsh

Chris ‘The Cutt’ Honeycutt (6-0 MMA) is set to take on Bellator MMA’s Paul ‘The Gentlemen’ Bradley in a rematch of their first fight that ended in a no contest, due to an accidental eye poke. Honeycutt, a former all american wrestler and NCAA finalist now a welterweight, has long been considered one of the top prospects in the sport. His unique combination of speed and strength, coupled with his dominate pedigree make him a legitimate threat to the Bellator MMA 170 lbs division.

His first professional fight took place in January of 2013, under the ‘Up and Comers’ banner in Palm Springs CA. His opponent Jesse Torres came in looking to keep the fight standing, however his plans were quickly scrapped with the first single leg of the day.

Honeycutt then went on a 4 fight tear before signing with Bellator MMA, picking up the UPC 185 title along the way. Making his debut at 170 lbs in September of 2014, Honeycutt has remained undefeated picking up 2 notable wins over former UFC fighter Aaron Wilkinson and the previously undefeated Clayton MacFarlane.

A win over Paul Daley will certainly put Honeycutt on a short list of fighters worthy of a shot at the 170 lbs crown.

 

Bellator 148: Weigh Ins Live Stream:

Posted: January 28, 2016 in Combat Sports, UFC
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Staff:

Undefeated welterweight prospect Chris ‘The Cutt’ Honeycutt (6-0 MMA) is set to take on Paul ‘The Gentlemen’ Bradley (22-6 MMA) in the second act of a fight that was originally halted due to an accidental eye poke. Although Bradley maintains a healthy experience advantage however, Honeycutt’s dominant wrestling pedigree make him a nightmare for any opponent.

In the main event English slugger Paul ‘Semtex’ Daley (37-12-2 MMA) will take on Andy ‘Stunner’ Uhrich in another welterweight bout that could have future title implications. Uhrich, is stepping up as an injury replacement for Josh Koscheck who was unable to compete due to an injury.

Editorial Note:We would not be surprised to see the winners of these two bouts face-off in the near future in a title qualification bout!

Make sure you tune in to the weigh ins below which begin at 5pm PST.

 

Bellator 148 Weigh Ins Stream:

The American National Team Set for Brazil

Posted: January 11, 2016 in Combat Sports
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The Breaking Point: Amanda Jones Tosses her opponent to the mat at The Fighters Source Finals

By: Jonathan M. King The Clinch Report
Photos By: John J Walsh The Clinch Report
Photos By: Bob Fisher Pugilpix.com

Harrah’s Resort Southern California served as the host as Fighters Source finalized the champions in their National mixed martial arts tournament. Each participant earned their way to this point by winning previous competitions across the country. With the champions earning a trip to Brazil to represent the United States in a competition against their host nation.

With so much at stake, the commitment of the fighters stood out first and foremost. With many fighters riding undefeated streaks one might think that protecting that zero was of primary importance. That sentiment quickly got thrown out the window as fighter after fighter came into the cage chomping at the bit; ready for a donnybrook.

The resulting carnage left an indelible mark, perhaps the world of MMA may have found their minor league.

Many fighters stood out on the entertaining card. But these two made the most impressive statements.

1: Amanda Jones: Jones systematically dissected her opponent and did so with clinical precision. Coming in the smaller of the two fighters, Jones needed a few moments to figure out Elizabeth van der Horst’s reach, but once she did the fight was never in question. Jones stepped on the gas about half way through the first round, but did so without getting sloppy. Knowing her opponents grappling pedigree, Jones alternated between securing position and posturing for strikes, when the fight was grounded. On her feet she bounced in and out of her opponents range and changed levels effectively well.  The bell tolled for van der Horst about 20 seconds before the end of the second round. Jones, utilized her position to quickly toss her transitioning opponent with one arm to the mat. If that didn’t punctuate the round, the vicious shot at the end of the frame certainly did. van der Horst could not continue and quit on her stool before the start of the 3rd round. With the win Jones not only secures another amateur title, but earns her spot to compete in Brazil as a representative of the United States.

2:Ahmed White: Grappling is truly an art form. Ahmed White was able to display his prowess with a slick triangle finish over a very tough Nick Lancaster, early into their middleweight bout. Once the bout made its way to the mat, White quickly elevated his legs and set up the finish with an effortless stroke.  Lancaster did his best to survive, and seemed to be fighting the choke effectively, however once White cleared his opponents arm he was able to cinch up the technique forcing the stoppage. White could possibly be the best of all the athletes on the ground, and could turn some heads in Brazil beating them at their own game!

Joining them in Brazil to round out the talented American team are Edwin Rivera, Patrick Mix, Justin Gonzalez, Justin Vazquez, Courtney King,  and Alexander Lopez.

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Fighters Source National Finals: The Organization of The Amateur Ranks

Posted: January 8, 2016 in Combat Sports, UFC
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By Jonathan King The Clinch Report

“The Pedigree of Honey does not concern the Bee!” Dickens

One of the most consistent problems in the burgeoning sport of MMA has been and continues to be, the opacity of pedigree. Countless times undefeated amateurs step up in competition only to learn a very painful lesson: State to state, organization to organization there really is no way to measure pedigree in amateur MMA.

Hopefully ‘Fighters Source’ can alleviate that problem, or at least increase the discussion. ‘Fighters Source’ team owner is ‘Up and Comers’ promoter Jason Weiner in concept is quite interesting. Essentially teams were set up in different cities around the country, featuring the top talent in that specific area. Those teams then took on other teams in a round robin tournament across the country. This accomplished two tasks with one fell swoop. First it collected the best fighters in a region, then through natural selection (in this case winning or losing fights) the elite began to emerge.

Not only is the concept intriguing to avid fight fans, but it seems to be translating to the general public as well. The semi finals leading up to this event were the first ever amateur MMA fights shown on network television. The CBS Sports Network covered the semi finals, and will also be televising the finals which takes place on January 9th at Harrahs Resort of Southern California in San Diego.

One of the finalist is local fighter Amanda Jones (4-2). Jones who fights for the San Diego Valor has been one of the busier fighters in the area the past year competing in both kickboxing and mixed martial arts. She will need utilize all of that experience tomorrow when she takes on a very tough Elizabeth Vanderhorst (3-0). Vanderhorst who fights for the Syracuse Gladius team comes into hostile territory ranked #5 in the State of New York.

In other competition Alexander Lopez (12-3) a local fighter who also competes for the San Diego Valor team will be taking on Brooks Conley (7-1) out of Alabama. Both fighters enter the bout as their States respective #1 contender, the winner will leave with the ISKA National Welterweight Title.

In total the event will feature 15 bouts, with 8 titles on the line. However glory is not all that is on the line. The winners will also receive trips to Brazil, where their fight training will resume with some of the pioneers in the sport. With so much at stake, the fights will certainly be closely contested. However there is more than just individual glory on the line. This promotion could be on to something that could change the sport entirely.

The consolidation of amateur ranks will serve as a better feeder system to the professional ranks. Major League Baseball has a national amateur system (AAA, AA, A etc), The NFL uses the NCAA the same way, the NHL (AHL) has the minor leagues and the juniors systems, and the results cannot be argued. Those that emerge are battle tested, vetted, and in most cases conceptually able to live the life of a professional athlete.

Amateur Mixed Martial arts is often one sided and generally not very appealing to the average fan. However this promotion could very well change that way of thinking. Bringing together all of the regional scenes, in a national setting may very well end up being a game changer for the sport. As the standard continues to improve with promotions like this perhaps too will the meaning of the amateur record. At one time we lauded amateur pugilists as national heroes. The Fighters Source could be the avenue the sport needs to take. After all the Fighters Source may end up becoming the”Golden Gloves” type of minor leagues the sport of MMA has been needing.

For more information on the promotion go to:www.fightersource.tv

Below is the entire Main Card for Fighters Source National Finals at Harrahs Resort of Southern California

 

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